SILVIO Berlusconi should be busting a gut to save Italy from bankruptcy and avoid financial meltdown in the eurozone.

Political leaders have been working all hours in a desperate search for a solution to the crisis but not, it appears, the Italian leader.

Instead of trying to evade the prospect of going cap in hand for a Euro bail-out, Berlusconi was yesterday dealing with more revelations about his private life – and accusations that his behaviour is more Mafia Don than statesman.

Court documents have revealed that the Prime Minister handed out more than £2.5million in cash to dozens of women invited to his infamous bunga bunga parties.

The huge payments come at a time when Italy has the third largest debt in the world, owing almost £1.7trillion – or £26,000 for every man, woman and child of the country’s 60 million population.

Berlusconi must raise £522billion over the next three years just to refinance this debt – but the dire financial situation means he will be forced to pay sky-high borrowing rates of up to 6%

But grateful starlets who received cash and work on Berlusconi’s numerous TV channels have less need to worry than other Italians.

The new revelations, which show he spent over £425,000 at a luxury car dealership and jeweller’s buying gifts for female fans, heap further pressure on the 75-year-old leader and provide more ammunition to his political opponents.

The documents are part of a 65,000-page corruption case related to a political ally of Berlusconi and details emerged just hours after Berlusconi reassured European Union officials that he was tackling the financial crisis, which threatens to topple Italy into a financial abyss.

However, critics doubt that his proposed reforms, which include raising the retirement age and prompting growth, will reduce Italy’s huge debt.

Among the well-rewarded women was Sabina Began – dubbed Queen Bee – after she organised several parties Berlusconi hosted.

Ms Began, 37, who has SB tattooed on her ankle, was given £43,500 in 2008 from Berlusconi’s account.

The same year she arranged a party at his official residence in Rome, which was attended by George Clooney and several escorts, although Ms Began insists she was simply “evening out numbers of men and women” at the event.

TV presenter Virginia Sanjust, 29 – rumoured to have had an affair with Berlusconi – got £130,000 and Barbara Matera, 29, who represented Berlusconi’s party at the European Parliament despite having no political experience, was given £82,500.

Party regular Evelina Manna, 37, who claimed to have had a passionate relationship with Berlusconi was given £600,000. She has already been at the centre of scandal after it emerged Berlusconi rang the head of the Italian state TV broadcaster and asked that a role be given to her in a popular show.

Other payments went to TV journalist Francesca Impiglia, 23, who was given £43,000 and former Big Brother contestant Angela Sozio, 31, received £33,000.

Tell-tale bank records also show that a car dealership in Milan was given £205,000 – and several women who attended bunga bunga parties received Minis as gifts.

Prosecutors also learned that women at the parties were given jewels and the bank records detail that one boutique in Milan received payments of £293,000.

The figures appear to reveal Berlusconi’s obsession with attractive young women and give weight to critics’ arguments that he spends more time enjoying himself than solving Italy’s financial crisis.

Earlier this month he came under fire from leading Catholics and Government MPs after joking that he was thinking of renaming his political party Forza Gnocca, which translates as ‘Go P***y’.

The inappropriate comment, made after support for his Freedom People party collapsed in the polls, was delivered as his country began to slide further towards a disastrous economic crisis.

Berlusconi is also involved in four trials – including one where he is accused of having sex with underage prostitute and belly dancer Karima El Mahroug, who was just 17 when she attended his bunga bunga parties.

Moroccan-born Miss El Mahroug is said to be one of 33 women who attended the notorious parties and like the others, was said to have been showered with gifts.

However, Berlusconi has insisted that nothing untoward took place and the events were simply “elegant civilised dinners” and that bunga bunga was a dance his guests took part in and he had nothing to do with.

His sex trial is due to resume next month along with other trials for abuse of office, perverting the course of justice and financial irregularities.

Opposition MPs claim Berlusconi cannot run the country effectively because he has to spend the majority of his time in court or consulting with his lawyers.

And one thing is certain – the spending revelations make it increasingly difficult for him to lecture Italians on austerity.